The head of the inspection unit set up in the wake of the Pike River mine disaster says it can cope with overseeing new regulations designed to improve safety in the oil and gas sector.
Acting Labour Minister Chris Finlayson on Tuesday announced guidelines to bring the country's oil and gas production in line with international standards.
The new rules will be overseen by the Department of Labour's High Hazard Unit.
General manager Brett Murray says the unit has been built up to deal with the new regulations.
He says under the revised legislation, all companies will have to provide safety cases before they can start drilling, and will have to report all 'near miss' incidents.
